Three Things Thursday

1.  Fresh Produce - if you aren't going to a local Farmer's Market - you are missing out!  I've been going to the Mississippi Farmer's Market every Saturday and I love it.  I've been getting fresh fruit, veggies, goat milk soap and local eggs.  It is worth the trip because the quality is better, the taste is better and it is healthier!

2.  Sunrise - I've seen a lot of them lately.  I've learned over the last two years that the only way I will get a run in is to get up and do it early.  With my job, my kids and being a working mom, I just can't do it any other time.  I've also learned how much I really love getting up that early.  It's quiet - no cars, no people, no kids, very little noise.........it's peaceful and calming to my soul.  Even if you don't run, get up early one morning and just go sit outside and watch the sun rise.  God's artwork is fabulous and it can become addictive.

3.  If you Instagram - go follow SmokenBoo.  The pictures are always of English bulldogs - puppies mainly.  These pictures always make me smile -  no matter what kind of day I've had.  If I ever have a dog, it will be an English Bulldog :-)  And yes, Boo is Smoken......CUTE !!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Friday - Going Backwards!

Time - it's flying and it's flying FAST !!  I do not consider myself old and I feel that life is less than half over for me.  However, it's amazing how far we have come since the 70s and 80s.  Last night I began listing things that I know from my youth that my children have never heard of.........feel free to comment and add to this list!!

1.  Rotary phones with a cord that are actually attached to the wall in some way!
2.  Party lines - we had one for years and we shared with a couple of old ladies.  I have never liked being on the phone a lot but inevitably one of them would want the line when I WAS using it.  One would interrupt and ask you to get off and the other lady would pick up and hang up repetitively until you got off!
3.  Televisions without a remote.  The TURN dial - and you had to get up to change the station.
4.  Rabbit ears - no cable, no dish!
5.  Radios with a turn dial - no digital, iPhone stations, etc.
5.  8 Track Tapes - one thing I do NOT miss.  LOL
6.  35 mm and 12 mm cameras!  FILM!!  You had to wait for your pictures!
7.  DOS - the black and green screen.  No Apple, no Windows.
8.  Shorter menus at fast food restaurants with no "combo" meals and no "upsizing".
9.  The only donuts  you could get were from the local bakery - not Dunkin or Krispy Kreme.
10.  Standard transmissions - I actually miss them.  I loved driving one!  My kids will never know what that is :-(
11.  Going to the library - because you didn't buy books or have a Kindle or iPAD reader.
12.  Only two movies at the theatre - versus 10-15 to choose from.
13.  Home Economics being taught in the schools.  Now girls can't cook or sew unless their mamas or grandmas teach them.
14.  Everyone having a garden - it's slowly coming back a little but most people buy frozen foods or canned.  Yuck!!
15.  Shelling your own beans or peas - even if you go to the farmer's market, they are shelled for you.
16.  People dressing up for church - this has almost completely disappeared and it's a shame what some people wear to worship God.
17.  A lawnmower you push!  Yes you can get these - but people so often get a riding mower or a self propel.  It would be a shame to actually work to mow the lawn.
18.  No air conditioning.  Now we think we are dying if we don't have one and we are because we are no longer used to the heat.
19.  A clothesline.  I love to smell the clothes after they have been hung outside.  Now your neighbors FREAK if you want one or have one - even if it is allowed in you area.
20.  Sidewalks - so many neighborhoods don't have one.  You risk your life to walk, run, ride a bike or just to visit the neighbor - if you even bother visiting them to begin with.
21.  Using the oven to reheat your food.  Yes we got a microwave when I was 12 but it was HUGE and had a turn dial.
22.  Families actually sitting down together for a meal - my kids DO  know this because I insist on it, but so many do not.  They eat on the run - headed to soccer, softball, dance, work, etc.  It is okay to be home and to be together!!
23.  AM radio stations with a few FM stations too.  No one listens to AM anymore and FM has been overcome by satellite radio or iTunes.
24.  Washing your own car - it's fun to get wet and soapy!
25.  Board games and physical games outside - not Wii, XBox, iPods, iPADs, etc.  Games where you actually talk and interact with each other, not to mention getting some exercise and fresh air.  We also do this at my house still.  TV OFF - go outside.  Or - TV OFF - come play a game with me.

Thankful Thursday

Something different this week - THANKFUL Thursday instead of Three Things Thursday :-)  With life's stresses and trials, it is so easy to forget to be thankful for the little things.  I know that when I pray I find myself praying for the day-to-day things - a home, food, family, a job, ability to pay bills, Jesus, Grace, etc.  But, what about the little things that happen every day that we just assume happen on their own - with no help from anyone, let along God.

This week I am so very thankful.  Reflecting today, I realized that despite the stress of the week, I'm quite a lucky woman.

1.  I'm thankful that I have a great job, that I'm good at it and that I get to do it every day.  The week has been full of meetings and I have so much to do at my desk I'm overwhelmed a little, but I WILL catch up and the meetings were necessary so instead of being stressed about that "To Do" pile - I'm glad it's there and that I can get it done...........starting tomorrow!

2.  I'm thankful that the bad weather Monday night caused as little damage as it did.  My house did not catch on fire from lightening as at least two houses did.  No trees fell on my house.  We are alive.  Our family  and friends are safe and well.  We needed the rain and the plants in my garden that survived are growing by leaps and bounds.

3.  I am thankful that I have a husband who can fix virtually anything.  During the storm, our water meter broke - for the third time in 1 1/2 years.  It's getting REALLY old too.  The water meter is only about 10 inches from a very large tree which has grown and has roots that shift and move.  The meter is lifting up but the PVC pipes on my side of the line are not - the meter is about 3-4 inches above the pipe.  We, once again, fixed it ourselves - this time using swimming pool flexible PVC piping that will "give" and "move" with the ground hopefully.  The city will not move the meter - won't do it despite the fact that they approved inspection this house when it was built 11-12 years ago with the meter exactly where it is.  My one prayer is that next time the entire meter blows or the pipes on the city's side go so that they have to take care of it.  Maybe they will move it then - at their cost, not mine.

4.  I am thankful that I have vacation days.  I was not happy that I had to use one Tuesday to get things repaired around here, but if I didn't have them, then I wouldn't have been paid for the day off that I needed.

5.  I am thankful that I have a reliable vehicle and that God watches over me as I drive 25 miles to work one way each day in some of the craziest traffic anywhere.  However, I am not thankful to the fellow employee who rode on my back bumper this morning on I-220 and then gave me dirty looks when we got to work as if I were inconveniencing her when I tapped the brakes to get her off.   And, I am certainly not thankful to the motorcycle who made his own lane and tried to pass between me and the Hertz rental van who was beside me in the next lane.  The motorcycle rider actually bumped my car.  He could have been thrown off under the van and killed (or under MY Buick) but instead he gave me the universal hand signal telling what he thought of me, floored it, and continued on driving between two lanes of cars side by side for about five more rows of cars until he got ahead of us so he could go at least 90 mph or so.  Good luck to him - he's gonna need it because he's got a death wish.  Thankfully I saw no damage to my passenger door but I hope his left mirror is broken :-)  BTW - he also had no tag - I looked in case I needed to file a police report for damage.

5.  Finally, I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday and that Saturday and Sunday follow tomorrow.  I see TGIF all the time - but truly think about it.  The weekend is an opportunity for respite from weekday stresses.  Sunday is the Lord's Day - be sure to observe the Lord's Day and rest. God did - and so should we!  It should be TGSIC !!!  Thank Goodness Sunday Is Coming!!!

Blessings!

Wanda

Three Things Thursday!

1.  Proverbs 31 Woman - I am doing a Bible study on the Proverbs 31 woman, my second one actually on this same subject.  I wish every woman would delve into this chapter of the Bible to understand each instruction given there - each individual guide and instruction.  It is changing me in so many ways.  I am definitely not a "submissive" wife - in fact I don't know many of those in today's world.  But I do see too much of the opposite - women who are not respectful to their husbands.  A woman I know has always asked me "why don't you make Jeff do XX?", why don't you tell Jeff he needs to XX?", "(Hubby-hers) knows that he is supposed to do this.", etc.  These comments have put  me on the defensive at times - quite frequently in fact, for two reasons - (1) I don't like being criticized or having my husband or marriage criticized and (2) This woman doesn't see that she is demanding and always telling everyone what they need to do, including her own husband.  The big picture, God's picture, is more important.  I get up early, 5-5:30 most days, to get my day started because it says to do so in Proverbs 31 and because I want to get up early.  I love it - I run, read my Bible, and pray before getting dressed.  I cook, clean, take care of my children, and do all that I do because I want to and because I want to be the woman, mother and wife God wants me to be.  I ask for help when I need it, but I do not "expect" Jeff to do them while I do very little.  I am busy all the time because it says in the Bible to be fruitful and busy - not to be slothful and lazy.  If you're interested in learning more about this study, google Good Morning Girls and  you'll find it.  It's wonderful!

2.  Summer is here finally - Ballet recital is done so my girls are officially free for the summer.  Cassie has practice at school two mornings a week but other than that, they are cleaning & organizing their rooms, swimming, spending time with friends, spending "down" time, etc.  It make me wish I was a teacher so I got a summer break too LOL. 

3.  Fresh Vegetables!! - my garden is growing and I will finally pick some squash this week.  Meanwhile, I'm visiting farmer's markets around the area to find fresh veggies for freezing and for cooking.  I could easily be a vegetarian.  Some suggested places to go:  the Farmer's Market by the Trade Mart off of High Street, the Livingston Farmer's Market in Madison county, Donna's Produce Stand #6 on Hwy 49 in Florence, Wright's Produce on Hwy 49 in Richland, the produce stand on Old Fannin Road - search for one or visit all.  You'll be glad you did!  Yum !!!